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Audi Q3 Reviews
2013 Audi Q3 2.0 TDI Review
Audi attempts to make its entry-level Q3 the automatic premium compact SUV choice.
Audi Q3 Review
It might be the smallest SUV in the range, but the Audi Q3 offers a premium ride, luxury interior and a bargain price when compared to its...
Audi Q3 Review
After the Q7 and Q5, it's now the Q3's turn. And Audi's smallest SUV is its best yet.
Audi Q3 News
Audi RSQ3: $81,900 and February on-sale for performance SUV
The Audi RSQ3 will be priced from $81,900 when it lands locally in February. Audi’s first SUV to be tuned by performance division...
Audi Q3 gets new base model, quattro-only range
The Audi Q3 range has been revised to 'MY14' specifications. No longer is a Q3 available for under $45,000, with the 2.
Audi RSQ3: first RS SUV to wear sub-$100K price tag
The Audi RSQ3 has been revealed ahead of the performance Q model's debut at next month's Geneva motor show.
Audi Q3 Red Track concept ready for the slopes
Three Audi Q3 concepts will headline Audi’s official involvement at this year’s Worthersee Tour in Austria, including the new Audi...
Audi RS Q3 concept: baby performance SUV revealed
The Audi RS Q3 concept will be one of the surprise stars of the 2012 Beijing motor show, suggesting that the German car maker will...
Audi Q3: new baby luxury SUV targets Evoque and X1
The Audi Q3 has arrived in Australia, bringing yet another option for buyers looking for an affordable luxury SUV.
2012 Audi A6 Allroad for Australia in Q3
The new Audi A6 Allroad will go on sale in Australia in the third quarter of 2012. The higher-riding, off-road-ready version of the...
Audi Q3 Vail concept unveiled at Detroit
Audi has pulled the wraps off a special concept named after a popular skiing destination in Colorado.
Audi Q3, BMW 1 Series, Hyundai Veloster awarded five-star Euro NCAP safety rating
Euro NCAP has released the latest round of test results. Some of the newest cars to join the five-star club include the Audi Q3, the new...
SEAT IBX production version to be based on Audi Q3
SEAT has just be given the contract to build the new Audi Q3 at its Martorell plant in Spain. Word on the net is this could bring about the...
2012 Audi Q3 revealed, on sale in Australia first half 2012
The Audi Q3 premium compact SUV has been fully unveiled ahead of its debut at next week’s Auto Shanghai 2011 motor show and its...
2012 Audi Q3 to debut at Auto Shanghai 2011
The 2012 Audi Q3 compact crossover will officially debut at Auto Shanghai 2011 on April 19. Audi has so far resisted the temptation to...
Audi Q3 Owner Reviews
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Digital TV News: Alexa
Amazon announces new Fire TV devices and redesigned UX
Sep 24, 2020 – Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has announced a next-generation Fire TV Stick, an all-new Fire TV Stick Lite, and a reimagined Fire TV experience that is more personal and customized.
News categories: Amazon, Marc Whitten, Asia, Canada, Digital TV, Europe, Latin America, OTT, Set Top Box, USA, UX
Cloud TV OS launched for Smart TVs in India
Sep 9, 2020 – Indian start-up Cloud TV has introduced an OS solution for Smart TVs. Designed to facilitate control over UI/UX development, Cloud TV OS offers customization possibilities for Android-based televisions.
News categories: Cloud TV OS, Jagdish Rajpurohit, Android TV, Digital TV, India, Smart TV, UX
Edgeware StreamBuilder selected for A1 Xplore TV
Sep 1, 2020 – Edgeware has announced that A1 Telekom Austria Group has deployed Edgeware's online TV solutions to help maximize audience reach for its new content and streaming platform, A1 Xplore TV.
News categories: Edgeware, A1 Telekom Austria Group, Karl Thedéen, Alexander Stock, Austria, Cable TV, Content Distribution, Digital TV, IPTV, Mobile
Quectel LTE modules integrate ENENSYS eMBMS middleware
Aug 24, 2020 – Quectel (603236.SS) has announced that its LTE modules and dongles can now be deployed with eMBMS middleware from ENENSYS. Quectel's modules can be integrated into devices, enabling LTE broadcast features with ENENSYS' technology.
News categories: Quectel, ENENSYS, Alexander Bufalino, Bartolo Scanavino, Hardware, Middleware, Mobile, Worldwide
Netgem TV launches In Ireland with Pure Telecom
Jul 23, 2020 – Netgem TV is now available in Ireland following a deal signed with Pure Telecom. After a successful 3-month free trial, the Broadband and TV bundle is now available to all customers for €43 per month.
News categories: Netgem, Pure Telecom, Sylvain Thevenot, Paul Connell, Digital TV, IPTV, Ireland, Set Top Box
Flynet delivers OTT content with Viaccess-Orca DRM in El Salvador
Jul 9, 2020 – Viaccess-Orca has announced that Flynet, an ISP in El Salvador, is using its multi-DRM for content protection. Using the solution, Flynet can securely deliver live OTT channels to subscribers on every screen.
News categories: Viaccess-Orca, Flynet, Carlos Ramos, Alexander Gomez, Digital TV, DRM, El Salvador, OTT
Eros Now partners with Dish TV India
Jun 30, 2020 – Eros Now (NYSE: EROS) has announced a partnership with Dish TV. As part of the association, Dish TV & D2H users can access Eros Now's massive content library through their Android STBs – Dish SMRT Hub and D2H Stream.
News categories: Eros Now, Dish TV India, Ali Hussein, Anil Dua, Apps, Digital TV, India, OTT, Satellite, Set Top Box
Deutsche Telekom Smart Speaker Mini powered by SoftAtHome
Jun 18, 2020 – SoftAtHome has announced that it is powering the Smart Speaker Mini deployed by Deutsche Telekom in Germany. The Smart Speaker enables users to enjoy voice control of all their Deutsche Telekom connected devices.
News categories: SoftAtHome, Deutsche Telekom, David Viret-Lange, Dr. Mirko Knoll, Germany, Middleware, Smart Home
Comscore and Cox Media expand TV measurement agreement
Jun 9, 2020 – Comscore (Nasdaq: SCOR) has announced an agreement to provide Cox Media Group (CMG) with TV measurement in six new markets: Syracuse, NY, Spokane, WA, Idaho Falls, ID, Eureka, CA, Binghamton, NY, and Alexandria, LA.
News categories: Comscore, Cox Media Group, Steve Walsh, Advertising, Big Data, USA
- NEXTGEN TV launches on six local TV stations in Mobile-Pensacola
- Comscore ad marketplace for Connected TV goes global
- Foxtel selects TiVo to power voice search
- Applicaster technology stack accelerates video app development
- AT&T U.S. down 627k; Vrio up 229k video subs in 3Q 2020
- Q1-Q3 2020 Smart TV sales up 14% in Germany
- Technicolor teams with Google to promote hybrid Android TV devices
- BitRouter releases ATSC3pro receiver software update
- Deutsche TV-Plattform launches CI+ 2.0 initiative
- Ultra HD Forum updates Guidelines and plans watermarking API
- WarnerMedia RIDE streaming comes to AT&T-connected GM vehicles
- U.S. has close to 300 OTT video services
- ENENSYS ATSC 3.0 solution deployed by SEI and VSatcast
- Sinclair acquires two TV stations in Washington, DC
- FreeWheel releases H1 2020 U.S. Video Marketplace Report
- Eutelsat selected by Kabelio for new Swiss HD platform
- RCN, Grande and Wave launch TiVo Stream 4K
- Nielsen to measure CTV campaigns on YouTube & YouTube TV
- Tata Elxsi selected as certified 3PL partner for Google Widevine
- 58 million U.S. broadband households to be MVPD-free by 2025

domain: news


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A “mom and pop” Asian food market has opened in downtown Palestine and will be having a grand opening and open house Saturday during the Dogwood Trails Celebration.
The Kaibigan Asian Market & Grocery is located at 308 W. Crawford St. next to K-9 Classic Cuts across from Palestine City Hall. The market is located on the back side of Warren’s Barber Shop, which is the market’s handicap entrance as well.
“We had a soft opening on Jan. 31, mostly word of mouth and already we’ve had a lot of people stop by. The community is really supporting us in this effort,” owner John Willingham said. “It’s already taken a life of it’s own — we are becoming more of an international market with a focus on Asian foods.”
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, the Kaibigan Asian Market & Grocery will hold an open house and grand opening event with some Thai, Indian, Filipino and Chinese food items available to taste.
Willingham, a Palestine native, and his wife, Rocelle, a native of the Philippines who moved to the United States in 1990, married in 1995, meeting at Palestine Regional Medical Center where they both worked at the time. Rocelle is still employed at PRMC as a medical technologist. They have a son, Thomas, 8.
The word “kaibigan” is Philippine for “friend,” according to Rocelle’s mom Araclei Habaradas, who is currently visiting from the Philippines.
“Palestine has a large Philippine, Vietnamese and Cambodian population,” Willingham said. “But there are other Asian nationalities as well such as Korean, Thai, Japanese and Chinese. We’ve also seen other nationalities such as Pakistan, Indian, Puerto Rican, Nigerian and Ethiopian who have come in to see what we have and asked us to carry some things. We are pretty much open to suggestions.”
Some of the food items available include: sweet chili sauce, pure raw honey, banana chips, oolong tea, oriental-style noodles, rice sticks, rice noodles, spring roll wrappers, Jasmine rice, brown Jasmine rice, frozen coconut juice, sushi rice, sushi wrappers, aloe vera dessert, coconut gel, dried squid, wasabi green peas, curry paste, curry gravy, Lychees, quail eggs, coconut and cane vinegar, LaPaz Batchoy instant noodles, bean thread noodles and whole mung beans.
The market also will carry some fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, sardines, cured meat (pork), Longaniza (sausage), milkfish and occasionally blue crabs from the Gulf.
The Kaibigan Asian Market & Grocery also carries the popular Filipino cracker peanut brand Nagaraya.
“We also have low-sugar jams and jellies that are made locally,” Rocelle Willingham said. “When all possible, we try to support local people. In the fall, we hope to start carrying flavored honeys.”
John Willingham said the closest Asian market is in Tyler, with many others in Dallas and Houston.
“One of the reasons we started this was because we would have to drive so far to get what we needed,” John Willingham said. “The market in Tyler is too high. When we made trips to Dallas, we would ask other people what they needed, and bring it back for them as well.”
That led to opening a market in Palestine.
The market also has a few clothing, jewelry and gift items, including magnetic bracelets.
“I believe our prices are very reasonable for an Asian food store,” Rocelle Willingham said.
Since opening, the market also has had requests for vegan and vegetarian food items.
“We will cater primarily to the Asian food market,” John Willingham said. “But we also will start looking for vegan and vegetarian items — healthy food choices.”
The Kaibigan Asian Market & Grocery is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Currently, the market takes cash and checks for payment. In the near future, the store will be able to take debit and credit cards.
For more information, call the Kaibigan Asian Market & Grocery at 903-391-3288.


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Binance, the world’s major cryptocurrency exchange by volume, broadcasted recently that at present the exchange will be taking care of acquisitions through debit and credit cards. The payments are handled by a third-party expenditures service Simplex. The facility works in the U.S. with the barring of six states: NY, CT, HI, GA, NM and WA. The list of limited countries is fairly small, but it does include some banks in China.
“Partnering with Simplex allows us to instantly bridge the gap between credit card payments and crypto for traders globally. On Binance.com, you can now buy crypto with credit cards and start trading in minutes, Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance, said in a statement.
Binance may be a strictly crypto-to-crypto exchange, that means it does not supply mercantilism pairs for decree currencies, and you cannot even send decree to the exchange (though the corporate did recently launch separate fiat-to-crypto exchanges for specific markets — Binance Jersey enables you to purchase crypto with pounds and euros, and Binance African nation with Ugandan shillings). This makes the credit and charge account credit crypto purchases the sole direct decree entranceway for the most important cryptocurrency exchange out there, and that i reckon there’ll be lots of users despite the unfavorable rate. There also are geographical limitations. The Simplex service isn’t supported in some countries, while, in the U.S., it doesn’t cowl the subsequent states: the big apple, Georgia, Connecticut, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Washington.
“The crypto trade continues to be in its early stages and most of the world’s cash continues to be in the decree. Building decree gateways is what we want currently to grow the system, increase adoption and introduce crypto to additional users,” Zhao aforementioned during a canned statement.
The move makes Binance the most recent major cryptocurrency exchange to launch unlisted services, following hot on the heels of us exchange Bittrex last week.
In December, meanwhile, crypto finance firm Circle unconcealed its existing unlisted table had handled payments value around $24 billion in 2018.
At the time, cryptocurrency news associated analysis publication Diar any found that an increasing range of major investors had begun to favor unlisted over ancient mercantilism strategies.
“Institutional cryptocurrency mercantilism on ancient exchanges have lost ground in volumes as Bitcoin is being welcomed into major outfit portfolios this year, with additional slated to come back on-line in 2019,” the publication summarized.
A Cointelegraph analysis has found that unlisted might play host to a battle among trade players to woo institutional funds this year.
In the 1st 3 quarters of this year Grayscale saw web inflows to the tune of $216Mn into its Bitcoin fund (Diar, five November). And whereas interest has slightly worn removed from peak packaging, the record inflows have resulted in Grayscale holding custody of over 1 Chronicles of Bitcoin’s current offer (Diar, three December).
The shift might be a proof of investors seeking personal placement during a market that has seen regulative clarity, a minimum of in terms of Bitcoin, the event of custody solutions, several of whom have conjointly secured insurance cowl, moreover as multiple Over-the-Counter mercantilism table avenues.


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Publishers sue Audible for up to 5 years missing royalties over lack of returns transparency in Audiblegate latest. Frankfurt loses major exhibitors for its in-person book fair while publishers seem to be thriving without the book fair merry-go-round. Only Fans reverses content crackdown raising questions over the relation between platforms and payment partners.
Fresh from the Writers Digest IndieLab conference, a new event specifically for the indie publishing sector, Michael La Ronn, representing ALLi as a speaker there, shares his top takeaways.
We are delighted to preview IndieLAB, one of a growing number of conferences that are opening up to indie authors this fall - organised by Writers Digest in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Amazon has introduced new rules aimed at stopping the abuse of Kindle Unlimted, and authors fighting back against Faleena Hopkins over Cockygate score an initial win in court.


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Apparently Xbox Series X production is already well underway, and Xbox has confirmed that France is on the priority list.
The news comes from French website Xboxygen, which is evidently specific to both Xbox and France, in case you couldn’t tell.
“What we learn today is that [Xbox Series X] is in production, and that France is one of the priority countries for the delivery of machines at the end of the year,” says the article when roughly translated. Admittedly, I am a linguistic philistine, so I had to use Google Translate. Regardless of my likely poor job, I think the meaning carries. Xbox Series X consoles are currently in production.
“We have the units for the launch,” Xbox France director Ina Gelbert told Xboxygen. “France is in the priority countries.”
“Now, will we have enough … This is always a big question, and this is where we enter into discussions for us, and it is my role, to favor France over to other countries. Show that we have the community, that we have the market, that there are huge expectations around the Xbox Series X in France and that we need units to cover this demand.”
Gelbert is also acutely aware of the fact that the coronavirus may impact the Xbox Series X launch. “The choice we made on this launch is to be present in more countries than at the launch of the Xbox One,” she said. “Today I do not see a risk for France. But if tomorrow, a few days before the launch, there is a huge containment in the world … we can not do much.”
So, Xbox Series X production is well underway, France is high on the list for hardware prioritization, and the coronavirus may (understandably) affect the number of units produced.
In related news, Halo Infinite was recently confirmed for an Xbox Series X reveal in July. In terms of specs, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will be 30fps on Xbox Series X.
The post Xbox Series X production is underway, France on priority list appeared first on VG247.


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BY Thursday night of Fashion Week, the excitement surrounding Esteban Cortazar, an 18-year-old Miami designer who is still in high school, had reached a frenzied pitch.
The debut of his collection was still three days away, but he had already been videotaped for Entertainment Weekly and the Style channel. Saks and Bloomingdale's had called for private viewings. And Anna Wintour had invited him to a reception at her home on Friday.
So when Mr. Cortazar, wearing a tattered army jacket and jeans, pulled up to Lotus in a limousine with Ferdinand Grandi, an Italian manufacturer of medical equipment who is his financial backer, Franz Klainsek, a friend, and two publicists, it was hardly surprising that Wendy Hinton, the club's hostess, came rushing out, parted the crowd and yelled, ''Let him pass!''
Mr. Cortazar, born in Colombia, is a familiar face on the Miami fashion scene. He has been staging shows there since he was 13, first at his elementary school and later at nightclubs and hotels.
He is a pal of Madonna, Shakira and Lenny Kravitz, who took him to the VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards two years ago. Kal Ruttenstein, the fashion director of Bloomingdale's, was so taken by Mr. Cortazar when they met at a Details magazine party in New York in the summer of 1999 that he shepherded him around Fashion Week that fall and last July displayed his clothes in the department store's windows for two weeks.Continue reading the main story
At 10 p.m. on Thursday, Mr. Cortazar and his group were just sitting down for dinner at Lotus, but his eyes were drooping. ''I've been up since 8 a.m. doing fittings,'' he said while holding his publicist's hand like a sleepy child. (Mr. Cortazar keeps an office in downtown Miami and lives at home with his mother.)
Ms. Hinton, in a low-cut red dress, breezed over and kissed him on the cheek. ''Oh, Esteban!'' she squealed. ''Everyone's dying to meet you! Courtney Love! The people from 'Paris Modes'!'' Mr. Cortazar smiled quietly. Mr. Grandi proposed a Champagne toast. Mr. Cortazar put up his hand and ordered a Coke instead. At midnight, Ms. Hinton returned. ''Calvin's in the backroom,'' she said. ''Let's go meet him!'' Mr. Cortazar jumped up, but by the time they reached the dining room, where Marie-Christiane Marek, the hostess of ''Paris Modes,'' a French television program about fashion, was giving a party, Mr. Klein was heading out the door. He mistakenly shook the hand of Mr. Cortazar's friend, Mr. Klainsek. ''Nice to meet you,'' Mr. Klein said, and bolted.
Mr. Cortazar moved on to the main table, where Ms. Marek was holding court with the painter Ahn Duong and Suzy Menkes, the fashion critic of The International Herald Tribune. ''Oh, I changed my travel plans so I could be at your show,'' Ms. Menkes said. She pulled out a disposable camera and took a photograph of Mr. Cortazar.
''The only thing that is taking my nervousness away is because my collection is good,'' Mr. Cortazar said. ''I hope you'll like it.''
The women cooed. Ms. Marek patted his hair. ''We're going to do a segment on you,'' she said. ''Isn't he darling?''
Ivana Trump was there in a black evening dress and a huge diamond necklace. ''I'd love for you to come to my show,'' Mr. Cortazar said. When he walked away, Ms. Trump said: ''I think I will go. If he's showing, and he's only 18, something must be going on. He's also very cute!''
Unexpectedly, Mr. Klein reappeared. ''Come on,'' Ms. Marek said, tugging Mr. Cortazar toward him. She made the introductions. Mr. Klein seemed confused.
''So you have your own little company?'' he asked Mr. Cortazar.
The boy nodded. His eyes were wide, and both of his hands were clasped in front of him as if in a prayer.
''So you actually make and sell your clothes?'' Mr. Klein asked. ''From an office? Your own little company?''
Thirty minutes passed, and they were still immersed. By 2 a.m. the room was clearing. George Michael's ''Freedom'' came on, and Mr. Cortazar ran out to the dance floor and started waving his arms in the air. A few people cheered.Continue reading the main story


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Get to market faster with feature-rich digital signage from Intel, deliver tangible value and leave lasting impressions, measure audience engagement in real-time, and quickly adapt to new trends for a seamless experience across every channel.
Cities are exploring a smart city vision that uses Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to collect and analyze data for better management of public resources and services.
Axiomtek's OPS compliant digital signage player called the OPS500-501-H now supports 7th generation Intel Core and Celeron processors with the Intel H110 chipset. Axiomtek's older OPS models used 5th or 6th generation Intel processors. The module is designed to offer...
Customers today rely on a variety of platforms when making purchasing decisions. For companies, the struggle is to deliver the best content to the right channels to grab customers when they are most open. An Intel webinar discussed ways that digital engagement platforms can help this process.
Intel technologies drives 75 percent of the media players and compute engines that drive digital signage and place-based media globally. The company demonstrated its digital signage innovations at NRF.
TouchSystems, a provider of professional-grade touch display and digital signage solutions, announced the latest offering from its P-Series large-format touch displays. The 55-inch P5530P-3 touch display features a 10-point multi-touch projected capacitive (PCAP) touch sensor, Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) compatibility,...
NEC Display Solutions of America, a display technology company, has announced a new display kiosk and ultra-high-definition solutions. The solutions are designed to help businesses deliver interactive UHD content, according to a press release. NEC partnered with True Definition Network...
Advantech, a provider of service automation solutions, launched its UTC-320D/E, a 21.5-inch, all-in-one touch computer that features a slim 18-mm bezel and 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution. The UTC-320D/E is powered by an Intel Celeron J1900/Core i5 processor that...
[FREE WEBINAR]: Intel, NEC help you Develop, Deploy, Engage: Digital Signage Solutions for the Savvy Retailer
The Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) was created by Intel to help standardize the design and development of digital signage devices and pluggable media players.
NEC Display Solutions of America, a provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced the latest Open Pluggable Specification-compliant computer for integration into the built-in OPS expansion slots of NEC's V, P and X Series displays, and E705, E805...
Breakthroughs in methods of display-panel production have led to a considerable decline in cost and are predicted to positively affect digital signage market trends.
The Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) was created by Intel to help standardize the design and development of digital signage devices and pluggable media players. This new technology simplifies device installation, usage, maintenance and upgrades for retailers. How do you use...
A dizzying array of technology and industry announcements are everywhere at the InfoComm 2016 event happening in Las Vegas.
The ICX Association last night honored excellence in interactive customer experience technologies with its 2016 Elevate Awards.
From digital signage mirrors to RFID tags and Beacons, the technology is there to personalize the customer's in-store path to purchase.
Sharp Imaging and Information Co. of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corp., recently showcased its full line of commercial and professional HD and 4K UHD displays the 2016 Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.
Shuttle Computer Group announced a new wave of Intel Skylake-based digital signage media players that will be on display at this year's DSE.
Industrial and embedded computer manufactuer Logic Supply announced it will introduce a new, small form-factor, fanless and ventless industrial PC at this year's Digital Signage Expo.
Lanner Electronics Inc. today announced the release of the LEC-2284, a high-performance box PC powered by Intel's fourth-generation Core i7/i5/i3 CPU with QM87 PCH.
Capturing the power of data is a key, ongoing effort for retailers who are wrestling with an overwhelming amount of information as communications devices and their interoperability in the customer experience evolve rapidly.


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The final CAD-based renders for iPhone 11 appeared this week and they show the iPhone’s uncommon triple camera setup and overall thinner bezels.
One thing we know for sure about the iPhone 11 is that it will most probably feature three cameras in a square-shaped module design. The renders from OnLeaks and CashKaro confirm that; the back of the iPhone 11 features a clean glass panel, along with the Apple logo and the camera setup.
The triple camera setup is incorporated inside a square-shaped hump, the design reminding of Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro Matrix camera setup, but lumpier.
iPhone 11 is expected to incorporate a telephoto, as well as an ultra-wide-angle camera. Also, the smartphone will feature a 5.8-inch AMOLED display, having 143.9 x 71.4 x 7.8 mm and the Lighting port.
Until September, when Apple reveals the product, we can only hope more information will surface.


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Mega Airless has two manufacturing facilities in Germany and one in the United States. The company has over 30 years of experience and has grown to become a leader in airless dispensing technology with approximately EUR 61 million (about USD 66 million) projected annual revenues for 2015 and the company has achieved EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margins in excess of 30% over the past three years.
Under the terms of the agreement, AptarGroup will acquire Mega Airless for an enterprise value of approximately EUR 200 million (USD 218 million). The purchase will be funded with available cash on hand in Europe and an existing revolving credit facility. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first quarter of this year.
“We are very pleased to announce this strategic acquisition which aligns with our disciplined approach of acquiring well-managed, profitable businesses with innovative technology. Their products and the markets they serve are complementary to our own and we see significant opportunities to leverage AptarGroup’s global network to grow this business. Today, dermal applications are growing and evolving. Regulatory agencies in the prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical markets, and customers in the beauty and personal care markets, are seeking better ways to control dosing and preserve formulations across a variety of products. This transaction will enable us to shape the future of airless solutions,” said Steve Hagge, AptarGroup President and CEO.
With over 50 years of experience, Aptar supplies a broad range of dispensing solutions for the beauty, personal care, home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectables, food, and beverage markets. The company is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and South America and over 13,000 employees worldwide.
“Mega Airless is a perfect fit for Aptar as we have complementary products and markets. By joining Aptar, we have a great opportunity to leverage Aptar’s global network, including their regulatory expertise, and continue to grow the airless systems portfolio,” commented Mega Airless CEO, Lucyna Silberstein.


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Realme hosted a launch conference to introduce the Realme GT2 Master Explorer Edition. Vice President, President of China, and president of Global Marketing of Realme, Xu Qi, unveiled a new white colour option for the company’s main product. Realme GT2 Master Explorer edition- Iceland is the official name for the colour option. He continued, “Realme will stake a claim for the greatest white smartphone texture.” Let’s discover more about the new features and specifications.
Realme GT2 Master Explorer Edition specifications and features
The smartphone comes with a 6.7-inch 2412x1080p 120Hz AMOLED display, 100W fast charging. Talking about the camera specifications the device has a 16MP front camera for taking selfies and video calls and a 50MP + 2MP rear camera, the Realme GT2 Master explorer Edition-Iceland has all the bells and whistles.
Additionally, a 100W GaN charging head is also included in the gadget, which is known for being compact and better at transferring heat. It has a 5000mAh internal battery unit and supports 100W quick charging. It is noteworthy that the smartphone can charge from zero to one hundred percent in just 25 minutes.
Not only that, but when this product launches it will be the first smartphone from the company to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 SoC and LPDDR5x RAM. Additionally, according to the most recent reports, the gadget would include the brand-new Pixelworks X7 independent graphics chip.
The smartphone has several other features including a wi-fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NFC, stereo speakers and a USB Type-C 2.0. Not only that the smartphone comes in four colour configurations including Gray, White, Aurora, and Apricot. Additionally, the gadget has a compass, proximity sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, and optical fingerprint reader (behind the display).


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Cotton Farmers Success Hinging On Fashion Forecast
GREENWOOD, Miss. (AP) _ Mississippi Delta cotton farmers are stepping out from their first profitable year since 1982, thanks to favorable weather and steady demand from the textile industry.
But weather can’t be controlled and cotton’s popularity in the international fashion industry is declining, analysts say.
″Last year, we had a couple of plants running 100 percent cotton. That isn’t the case now,″ said Larry Martin of Alice Manufacturing, one of South Carolina’s largest privately held textile companies.
″Last year was one of those once-in-a-100-years things,″ Mississippi Extension Service analyst O.A. Cleveland said.
Fighting a trend that could slice into their spouses’ livelihood, a group called Cotton Wives is trying to make sure cotton never goes out of style. The women, married to cotton farmers, put on all-cotton fashion shows in the South, promoting the fruits of their husbands’ labor.
In 1987, Mississippi produced 1.75 million bales of cotton, up from less than 1.2 million in 1986, extension economist Bob Williams said. The yield per acre in 1987 was 832 pounds, second only to the 1982 record of 853 pounds per acre. In 1986, production reached an all-time low of 571 pounds per acre, Williams said.
Last year’s selling price averaged 65 cents a pound. But now 1987 crops are selling for a cash price of 59 cents and 1988 crops are pre-selling for 57 cents, Cleveland said.
America is about 18 months behind Europe in fashion, and 16 months ago cotton began to fade from European clothes, meaning farmers can no longer rely on the textile market as a major purchaser, Cleveland said.
″The market is telling us that cotton demand will not be as strong in 1988,″ he said. ″Nothing that good lasts forever.″
Alice’s five plants in South Carolina are running more cotton blends than they have in the past, said Martin.
″There has been some change in the amount of 100 percent cotton we are producing. It’s predicated on demands and conditions in the marketplace,″ he said.
Store buyers agree that there has been a drop-off in the demand for cotton, but say Southerners will never abandon their preference for the fabric which helps them keep cool.
″The 100 percent cotton has not been in as big demand across the country. But the South loves its cotton,″ said Jan Collins, sportswear buyer for the Sunbelt’s McRae’s Department Stores.
The rest of America may be riding on European coattails, but the South tends to do its own thing, said Kathryn Becker, buyer for the Jackson clothing store High Cotton.
″That trend is usually in the fashion industry as a whole,″ Becker said. ″The South doesn’t usually home in on that kind of thing.″ But some buyers say rayon and polyester are making a comeback as women seek a softer, more feminine look that cannot always be achieved with cotton.
″The softer rayons are selling big, which may be taking away from the cotton business,″ said Shelia Walters, a sportswear buyer for New Orleans- based D.H. Holmes Department Stores.
But buyers say don’t write cotton off as a washed-up fabric.
″Cotton is a very important project to us almost year-round,″ McRae’s fashion director Pat Priebe said. ″Our buyers do not have trouble getting it and we don’t have trouble selling it.″
Cotton Wives, who say the trend in Europe doesn’t dictate American fashion and certainly doesn’t amount to a hill of beans in the South, market their crops through schools, public appearances and style shows.
″We go to schools and tell them to check labels, make sure they’re 100 percent cotton and made in the U.S.A.,″ says cotton wife Janie Braswell of Morgan City. ″We push cotton by telling them they’re helping out the farmers.″


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What's it going to be? Donkey Haute Tacos? Bad Ass Tacos? Or how about Pi***e Tacos? As Cafe Society readers know, Pinche Tacos, one of Denver's newest street food carts is looking for a new name for its planned 16th Street Mall location, and today's the last day to lob your suggestions their way.
You've got till noon to make your voice heard on Pinche Tacos' Facebook page. "We're looking for a G-rating...maybe PG-13 at most," says Pinche Tacos' website.
Pinche Tacos' owner and chef Kevin Morrison says he's got two names in mind, but he's withholding judgment until everyone has had a chance to make new suggestions or vote on existing ones. Shortly after noon today, he'll announce the winner, who will receive free lunches at Pinche Tacos for a year or a $500 catering package.
Approval of Pinche Tacos' 16th Street cart was withdrawn earlier this year after the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District learned that "pinche" is a swear word in Spanish. Pinche Tacos owner and chef Kevin Morrison used the situation to his advantage, however, and launched the online renaming contest.
Pinche Tacos currently sells tacos at the Cherry Creek Farmers Market with additional locations, including the one on the 16th Street Mall, rolling out this summer. Morrison says he'll have a cart up and running on Market Street between 18th and 19th any day now and also plans to be at Civic Center Eats Tuesdays starting June 15.
The 16th Street cart, with its newly minted name, is slated to make its debut early next month. For more information on Denver's rocking street food scene, check out this week's cover story.
Keep Westword Free... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Denver with no paywalls.


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The Vertu Vanishes
A $20,000 mobile phone is bound to attract some unsavory types. As racing driver Jay Christian Rado found to his cost when visiting a nightclub in Beautiful Downtown Orlando, Fla.
Yep, Mr. Rado is the first person we've heard of to have his ultra-exclusive Vertu phone nicked. [Ed note: Vertu prefers to refer to its phones as instruments, in the same way that its parent company Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) insists its camera phones are imaging devices. Frankly, that kind of nonsense turns our delicate digestive devices, so we'll stick with calling a phone a phone, thank you very much.]
A police news release helpfully reveals that Mr. Rado's $19,450 model "contains 150 grams of platinum. The keypad numbers are rubies and other jewels. The faceplate is sapphire crystal." So it won't be getting melted down as we speak, oh no!
Since Vertu's launch in January, a few high profile celebs such as Madonna and Gwyneth have acquired the status symbols (see Paltrow's Massive Wedge).
Racy Rado is offering a $2,000 reward -- no questions asked -- for the return of his phone, which will cease to be of any use as a communications device once the battery runs down, as it requires a special charger. However, we suspect (perhaps naïvely, perhaps not) that the flashy little number may not have been "half-inched" by a thief desperate to clock up some time on someone else's phone bill.
In the meantime, our featured crime victim may have to slum it along with the rest of us mortals, and carry something as common as The Hitachi P300 -- though, while the flashing lights might cheer him up, they could also remind him of his December Disco Device Disaster. — Dan Jones, Senior Editor, Unstrung


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World lavender leader
Who knew? Bulgaria has overtaken France to become the world's top producer of lavender oil.
France itself now purchases 80 - 90% of Bulgaria's output.
Lavender oil is used in the perfume and cosmetics industry and in medicine.
France and Bulgaria together account for nearly 75% of the world's lavender oil output, but France lost 50 percent of its crops between 2005 and 2010 due to a noxious bacteria.
Last year France distilled 25-30 tonnes of lavender oil, while Bulgaria's output was 45 tonnes.
The biggest importers are France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and USA.


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Apple Inc. has lost lawsuit on a processor patent to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and could be facing up to $862 million in damages. The US jury found that Apple used a technology that is owned by the university’s licensing arm without permission. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) had sued Apple in January 2014 for the infringement of its 1998 patent, that improves the efficiency of a chip.
The jury was considering if Apple’s A7, A8, and A8X processors violate the patent. These processors are found in the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and 6 Plus along with several versions of the iPad. Apple denied any infringement and said that the patent was invalid. It had also asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to review the patent’s validity, but the agency had rejected the bid in April.
US District Judge William Conley, who is presiding over the case, has scheduled the trial to proceed in three phases: liability, damages, and whether Apple infringed upon the patent willfully. If Apple is found to have infringed upon the patent willfully, it could lead to further penalties.
WARF had earlier used the patent to sue Intel Corp. in 2008, but the case was settled the following year on the day before the trial. Last month, WARF launched a second lawsuit against Apple. The new lawsuit targeted the A9 as well as the A9X processors that are being used in the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and the iPad Pro.
Earlier this year, Indian firm iVoice Ventures had filed a lawsuit against Apple over the ‘iPhone’ brand. iVoice owns the ‘iFon’ trademark and challenged all of Apple’s iPhone marks and applications in the country. Before this, Apple was also facing a lawsuit accusing it of falsely advertising the storage capacity available on iPhones, iPads, and iPods. The lawsuit said that the large data footprint of the iOS 8 operating system eats into the advertised capacity of Apple’s mobile devices. The suit also alleged that that Apple delivered advertisements for its paid iCloud online storage when a device's storage space is almost full.


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Cresco Labs Inc (OTCMKTS:CRLBF) has completed the takeover of Hope Heal Health Inc. It has received the regulatory nod of the Cannabis Control Commission in Massachusetts for the change in ownership.
Hope Heal owns licenses for the production
Hope Heal owns the licenses for the cultivation and manufacturing of the products in Massachusetts. It also holds licenses for retail operations. The company can obtain two more retail licenses in Massachusetts. Hope Heal manages a manufacturing and cultivation facility in Fall River.
Hope Heal dispensary commences sale of recreational cannabis
Hope Heal dispensary has commenced the sale of recreational cannabis. The company can use its license to serve the prevailing medical cannabis users. Hope Heal can also quickly meet the growing demand for adult-use cannabis through its retail/ wholesale distribution of the products of Cresco. Massachusetts has reported record cannabis sales of $450 million in the first year itself.
Charlie Bachtell, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cresco, said the company is excited to commence serving the adult-use cannabis users. This is part of its endeavor to establish a global presence. The company will continue to meet the needs of medical cannabis patients in Massachusetts.
After entering a pact to take over Hope Heal in late 2018, Cresco worked with the team of Hope Heal to develop a reputation for consistency and quality in the northeast’s largest adult-use cannabis space. Charlie said the company will look forward to establishing its retail presence in the market under the Sunnyside brand. It is also developing its wholesale channels.
Supports over 40 cannabis dispensaries
Hope Heal services over 40 cannabis dispensaries in Massachusetts. It distributes a full suite of cannabis products to Remedi, Cresco, and Mindy’s Edibles. With River Fall dispensary situated at a distance of less than 20 miles from downtown Providence, Hope Heal expects to attract more adult-use cannabis customers in the tourism sector of Massachusetts and the local communities.
Cresco closes a non-brokered credit agreement
Cresco has announced the closure of a non-brokered credit accord for the Senior Loan of $100 million. It can increase the loan amount by up to $200 million on mutually agreeable terms. The company will use the proceeds for expanding the operations in Illinois.


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Poco F1 MIUI 11 update (unsurprisingly) confirmed by Xiaomi exec
Chinese OEM Xiaomi, as you may know, is working on refining the company’s latest custom skin MIUI 11 which is based on last year’s Android 9.0 Pie. The current MIUI 10 is based on Android 8.0 Oreo, and the company aims to offer a level up experience to users with the next UI.
MIUI 11 is expected to revamp the look and feel by upgrading the system and app icons. It may give users the ability to play with icon shapes as well. An interesting feature that could be added is the ultra power saving mode to enhance battery performance by turning off certain apps and features.
The status bar is also expected to be optimized with better spacing, and users may also get an option to darken the status bar in order to hide the notch. Automatic deletion of screenshots once shared will also be an added benefit. And not to miss, the trending system-wide dark theme.
However, among Xiaomi’s list of devices that’ll be upgraded to MIUI 11, surprisingly there was no mention of Pocophone F1 at least until now. Poco F1 is Xiaomi’s last year’s phone that is powered by Snapdragon 845 and shipped with Android Oreo. It was upgraded to Pie by the end of launch year.
As per the rumors/speculations that surfaced, not much has come to light about MIUI 11 on Poco F1. Though, being last year’s budget friendly high-end phone it should be upgraded to MIUI 11.
While until now there wasn’t any confirmation, now Xiaomi’s global Head of Pocophone, Alvin Tse has spoken on the matter. While reverting back to an inquirer on Twitter, they shared that Pocophone F1 (or Poco F1) will indeed get MIUI 11. Here’s what they said:
So there you go. Those of you who own a Poco F1 (or plan to buy it) and have been looking for the company’s word about MIUI 11’s arrival on the unit, as has been confirmed by Xiaomi executive themselves, you’ll get to see it. When? Well, there’s no ETA for MIUI 11’s arrival yet.
Rest assured, we’re keeping a close watch on MIUI 11 related developments and will update as and when something relevant catches our sight.
NOTE: For more Xiaomi related new and stories, interested readers may head here.
P.S. We’re maintaining an archive of all major developments (bugs, issues, problems and new updates) related to on Pocophone F1 smartphone. The page is continuously updated with latest Poco F1 news so that you don’t need to search for information related to the device on daily basis.
PiunikaWeb is a unique initiative that mainly focuses on investigative journalism. This means we do a lot of hard work to come up with news stories that are either ‘exclusive,’ ‘breaking,’ or ‘curated’ in nature. Perhaps that’s the reason our work has been picked by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and more. Do take a tour of our website to get a feel of our work. And if you like what we do, stay connected with us on Twitter (@PiunikaWeb) and other social media channels to receive timely updates on stories we publish.


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Note: Prices are subject to change but will not be charged without customer agreement.
Facebook said to bring back some face-recognition features in the EU
2 September 2014, 11:36 am
In the past, European data authorities haven't been very receptive of Facebook's facial recognition ...
SoftBank's humanoid helper robot will come to the US within a year
2 September 2014, 11:09 am
Good news: you won't have to book a flight to Japan to try SoftBank's Pepper robot for yourself. The...
Wellograph's fashionable fitness tracker is now on sale
2 September 2014, 10:43 am
It was back in January that we got our first look at Wellograph's stylish fitness watch with a sapph...


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Maybe Ron Johnson didn’t kill JCPenney, after all.
The struggling retailer’s shares soared 25 percent in after-hours trades on better-than-expected sales, a key sign that Penney may be recovering at last from former CEO Johnson’s disastrous makeover attempt.
“We’ve turned an important corner,” said CEO Mike Ullman, who retook the reins 13 months ago from Johnson, an ex-Apple exec who had sent shoppers fleeing by abruptly banishing coupons and sales events.
Indeed, Penney in April saw its first increase in customer traffic in 30 months — a signal that Ullman’s strategy to bring back old-school department-store discounting is finally beginning to work.
Sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 6.2 percent during the first quarter, beating the company’s forecast for an increase between 3 percent and 5 percent.
Penney shares, 30 percent of which have been “shorted” by investors who have borrowed them on a bet that they will fall, traded as high as $10.51 in after-hours trades after closing the regular session at $8.37.
Ullman — who along with other top execs has lately been buying Penney shares — signaled that he’s not going anywhere despite the fact that the board hired an executive-search firm last year to replace him.
“We’re fully staffed at the senior level,” Ullman told analysts on a Thursday call. He added that there are “no major changes on the horizon.”
Ullman said he expects Penney to stop losing money this year, citing solid momentum heading into the current quarter. The company reiterated that it anticipates same-store sales gains in the mid-single-digits for the full year.
Nevertheless, the most recent numbers remained sobering: Penney’s net loss was $352 million, or $1.15 per share, compared with a loss of $348 million, or $1.58 per share, a year earlier.
That’s a signal that Penney is still being forced to mark down unsold clothing to entice wary shoppers alienated by Johnson’s tactics.
In addition to restoring coupons, Ullman has brought back a number of private brands that Johnson had banished. Those include St. John’s Bay, a $1 billion brand that Johnson said was dowdy and out of date.
Some critics are skeptical about whether bringing back old brands can make Penney anything better than mediocre. Still, a recent jump in sales eases fears that Penney could face another liquidity crisis later this year.
Total sales rose to $2.8 billion, from $2.64 billion, beating Wall Street’s forecast of $2.71 billion.
Gross margins continued to improve, to 33.1 percent of sales, from 30.8 percent in the same quarter of 2013.
The company said it had increased its credit facility to $2.35 billion, from $1.85 billion, and extended its maturity to enhance its liquidity position.


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In the US trial against Mr. Ulbricht, prosecutors have stated that the alleged creator and operator of the Silk Road underground market operated like a traditional drug lord.
...of Google lows, Samsung highs and yet ANOTHER low-end Lumia
Win a Chromebook Pixel!
VidOn TV Box review: The Android TV box with Blu-ray menu navigation
HTC One M9 review - is this really the One for you?
htc one m9
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge unboxing and first impressions
galaxy s6 edge
Dark net sites hide a user's identity by routing their traffic through a series of computers. They have been associated with illegal activity so many of them are being shut down in a global raid.
The US is going to sell its hoard of nearly 30,000 Bitcoins accumulated from the FBI's closure of the Silk Road last year in blocks of 3,000 BTC in an online public auction on June 27th.
Two operators of Bitcoin exchanges have been arrested and charged with money laundering, with federal officials claiming they sold over $1 million in Bitcoins to the now shut down Silk Road site.
Last year authorities shut down the biggest online drug trading website on the dark web. When Silk Road was shut down authorities also seized a large number of bitcoins from the sites ownership.


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1 Min Read
DUBLIN, May 29 (Reuters) - Irish annual retail sales volumes increased at the slowest pace in almost four years in April due largely to a Brexit-influenced fall in car sales, central statistics office data showed on Monday.
Retail sales volumes, which have staged a rapid recovery since 2014, fell 0.6 percent month-on-month but were 1.6 percent up on the year, as consumers imported more used cars due to the sharp fall in the value of sterling against the euro since Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
But excluding car sales, which have fallen by 10 percent so far this year, "core" retail sales expanded by 0.4 percent month-on-month and 6.4 percent on an annual basis as department stores, bars and furniture and lighting sales all rose sharply. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)


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U.S. Filipino Food Store Chain Offers Same-Day Grocery Delivery
Island Pacific Supermarket, operating 16 stores in California and Nevada, has become the first Filipino supermarket chain to offer online shopping with same-day grocery delivery in the United States, according to the company.
“Because of COVID-19 and the drive to keep our communities safe at home, the Island Pacific team adaptively offered the e-commerce platform less than a month after the quarantine orders went into effect, because of the unyielding efforts of our founder Nino ‘Jeff’ Lim,” said Giselle Tongi-Walters, director of communications and community partnerships at Walnut, California-based Island Pacific. “Despite the many challenges in the first few weeks of the pandemic, the Island Pacific company also offered a rice reservation system so that people could reserve online and pickup in store to mitigate long lines and implement social distancing.”
On June 12 – Philippine Independence Day – Island Pacific released an updated version of its app to enhance customers’ online shopping experience. The upgraded app notifies shoppers by mobile phone when their orders are ready. Customers can then notify the store when they’re on the way to pick up their order at curbside.
Each Island Pacific location includes designated spaces for curbside pickup so customers can wait in their cars while personal shoppers load the groceries.


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There are some boldface names behind the opening of the Nobu Ryokan hotel on Carbon Beach in Malibu later this month.
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who reportedly owns 10 houses on the beach, joined Nobu Hospitality Group to build the 16-room luxury hotel next to Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s namesake restaurant, according to spokesman Eric Rivera. The hotel’s other owners include Matsuhisa, actor Robert de Niro, and former Hollywood producer Meir Teper.
The hotel is supposed to put a modern twist on the traditional minimalist aesthetic of a Japanese ryokan, or inn, with teak soaking tubs in each room.
Stays will require a minimum of two nights with rates beginning at $2,000 a night during busy travel periods, according to the hotel’s website. Guests get preferred reservations at the restaurant.
New York-based Nobu Hospitality Group, owned by Matsuhisa, De Niro, Teper, and Australian billionaire James Packer, will manage the property, Rivera said.
Matsuhisa opened the first of his namesake restaurants in New York in 1994. The first Nobu Hotel opened within Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in 2013. There are three other Nobu Hotels in the country.
The Malibu hotel is one of nine that hospitality group plans to open in locations spanning the globe, according to its website. The company has another restaurant in West Hollywood in addition to Malibu.
Staff reporter Caroline Anderson can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, CLICK HERE.


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48 percent Indian telecom users believe that there is no difference between 2G and 3G speeds, said Ericsson ConsumerLab report.
63 percent of Indian broadband users face quality and reliability issues including lost connections and inconsistent network speeds, when using mobile networks indoors.
App-related issues while outdoors or commuting, such lengthy lag times, apps taking a long time to refresh, maps failing to load, and session failures affect 68 percent of consumers. Such problems are more common in mid-size and small towns compared to large cities.
Ericsson India said connection quality and reliability problems have a higher tendency to occur indoors, while session failures and poor app accessibility are problems faced by outdoor smartphone users.
Affordability and digital literacy are the prime obstacles to adoption for consumers who do not use mobile broadband. 88 percent consumers on 2G feel that mobile broadband is too expensive. 53 percent feel that mobile broadband adds no value and 48 percent believe there is no difference between 2G and 3G speeds.
Mobile internet usage is expected to grow with the consumers’ better understanding of the data plans on offer. 10 percent of mobile internet users feel they understand their plan perfectly, and are able to make an accurate judgment when deciding on a plan.
The adoption of mobile Internet within the lower socio-economic segment in India has increased from 38 percent in 2013 to 45 percent in 2015, said Ericsson ConsumerLab report.
The growth driver for the mobile Internet adoption is the availability of cost effective smartphones in India. India has around 900 million mobile customers.
3 in 5 smartphone users use mobile broadband in urban India. Smartphone penetration in mid-size and small cities is 33 percent against of 27 percent in big non metros and large cities.
The proportion of smartphone users above the age of 50 has quadrupled, from 1 percent in 2013 to 4 percent in 2015. The main motivation for this increase is the desire to connect with loved ones, particularly through emails, chat applications and instant messaging.
Ajay Gupta, vice president and head of Strategy and Marketing, Ericsson India, said: “Though the most used smartphone services in India are for social networking and instant messaging, the usage of banking, e-commerce, navigation and cloud storage apps and services is increasing.”
Indian telecom industry is seeing uptake and digital transformation of many industries like retail, transportation, and banking.
Video streaming accounts for the fastest growing service on mobile data, followed by social networking. 70 percent of mobile broadband smartphone users regularly stream videos on their smartphones, and 61 percent use social networking.
Of those users not using e-commerce services currently, 58 percent stated that they would begin to do so in the next six months, while 52 percent will use the internet to pay bill online. Services like location navigation while travelling and cloud storage are also seeing an upswing in usage.


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Three-day tickets were re-selling online for over $3,000
There have been hundreds of consumer complaints
Riding a wave of popularity
Sheeran announces a new tour of Australia with ticket prices capped.
Organisers: 'there will be a fundraiser for flood victims'
Warning ahead of official Elton John ticket sales.
Adele captivated Kiwi fans by selling out three shows in one day
Cubs and Indians head to Chicago with series locked at 1-1.
Lotto winner is facing life in prison for investing winnings in meth
The resale facility will open on May 30.
Williams has date with destiny in US
Most Splendour in the Grass tickets gone within an hour
Kanye West set to headline Glastonbury Festival
TIPI Forest will return to Splendour in the Grass this year.


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Phones which are updated to Pie from an older Android version still use the three-button nav by default, but if you wish to flip them on, doing so is fairly simple. For the month of May, Lollipop can nonetheless be known as the most well-liked Android model. Its utilization share is the same however the variety of devices working Android 5.1 has increased as compared.
Our calendar has turned over for another yr, but there’s a small change in the market share for various Android variations, anticipated for Nougat. Eating chunks off Marshmallow, Lollipop, and KitKat, it has recorded a dramatic enhance during the last couple of months, now operating on around 26.3% of Android units. If we speak about iOS, nearly the entire help units get updates within every week after the discharge of the brand new version. But we’d take Android decentralized ecosystem into consideration right here.
There is also a small but shocking improve within the case of Android Gingerbread usage share, despite being older than ICS. Android’s most up-to-date version Oreo is yet to mark a presence with just zero.7% utilization share after 5 months since its launch. And regarding GB and ICS, it’s virtually clear that their market share received’t change till users start ditching their previous Android phones.
The replace is being released for the unlocked variants of the cellphone in addition to those who have been offered though Google Fi and Amazon as part of the retailers Prime Exclusive lineup. February 7, 2019 — According to MobileSyrup, Android Pie with One UI on prime is rolling out to Galaxy Note 9 gadgets in Canada. The update has been released by most carriers together with Rogers, Fido, and Telus.
Where each Android version depreciated by one or two percent, Android Oreo is quickly gaining on Nougat with a big increase of 6.four% solely over two months cross 12% in Android utilization share. February 19, 2019 — Razer has revealed the Android Pie update roadmap for its gaming-centered Razer Phone 2. On February 27, the newest version of Android will begin rolling out to the unlocked variants of the device. Most carriers will begin delivery out the replace on March 13 with the exception of AT&T, which can release it on April four. August 5, 2019 — My LG Phones reports that LG is rolling out Android Pie to the V35 ThinQ within the U.S.


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In this opinion piece, Andrew Birmingham, editor of digital business site Which-50.com, says rather than rage about disruption, brands should put their efforts into winning back their deserting customer base…
Pity the poor taxi industry. Well actually you don’t need to, they are already running a fine line in self indulgence.
This week the ACCC knocked back an attempt by incumbent taxi companies to force us all to use a single app – not even a hint of a nod to competition.
They never learn. Probably, they never will.
In fact they are almost comic book villains in the war between incumbency and digital insurgency. They have tried rent seeking, complaining, scare tactics, the courts, and in Brisbane at least one of their members bragged on Facebook about assaulting an Uber driver. The taxi industry’s response to that behaviour was that somehow it was Uber’s fault. You get the picture.
Maybe they might try offering a better service at a lower price.
The taxi industry is hardly the first one to wallow in the manifest unfairness of capitalism when cosy certainties unwind.
Remember for instance the unedifying spectacle of Australia’s traditional retail industry billionaires trooping off the Canberra and demanding irrational changes to the GST law – reminiscent of the bad old days when vested interests routinely went seeking special preference in tariff protections.
They got their way of course and now we have a tax that costs more to administer than it collects. The fact that the incumbents and their cheer leaders keep talking about “protecting the integrity of the tax system” whenever the irrationality of the GST extension is challenged tells you everything you need to know about their real motives.
This week another incumbent Channel Nine floated the idea via the usual channels that it would punish consumers using ad blockers by banning them from its site.
(Notice something missing? Nah. me either)
Apart from the obvious retort that such an action hardly constitutes a threat it belies an ongoing attitude – found across banking, media, retail and of course the taxi industry – that incumbents can tell their customers where to hop off.
They might want to take a lesson from the travel and music and software industries about where power ultimately resides.
Verizon Media’s talent program has come to an end for the third year, closing with a hybrid pitch-off event for Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD). The Verizon Media Academy class of 2021, made up of 44 emerging leaders from across Australia and New Zealand media, advertising and marketing industry, were given just one hour to […]
Social purpose organisation UnLtd’s Big Games competition has raised a combined $85,000 for children and young people at risk. Running over five weeks, the competition involved 32 teams from across the advertising, marketing and media industries battling it out virtually for a chance to qualify for the Rocket League final. The tournament culminated in a […]
Stan has announced that the Stan Original Film Transfusion commenced filming in Sydney earlier this week and will premiere on Stan in 2022. Transfusion is a taut, muscular thriller starring Sam Worthington (Avatar) as Ryan Logan, a former Special Forces operative, who is battling to cope with life after the loss of his wife and is thrust […]
According to a decade of data collected by iStock, Australian brands turned to imagery depicting outdated gender stereotypes during the pandemic. Tracking the keyword ‘women’, iStock by Getty Images found that in 2020, ANZ brands and businesses reverted to gender stereotypes. Images of mothers home-schooling were used at almost twice the rate of images of […]
Schwartz Media is congratulating Maddison Connaughton on her three years as editor of The Saturday Paper. Connaughton has decided to finish up her editorship this month. “It’s been an honour to edit the paper,” Connaughton said. “The Saturday Paper is one of the brightest voices in Australian media and I have been happy to see […]
Research from EdBbirdie using Spotify data has identified the most popular songs to study to. After analysing thousands of studying and homework playlists on Spotify, American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’ came out as top song to study to. It featured on 48 study playlists, while other top songs included ‘Ophelia’ by The Lumineers, ‘Falling’ […]
Dayna Stewart is the Business Director – Digital Marketing, Media & Creative Services at The Nudge Group. Here, she discusses the challenges that come with building a successful marketing team when working remotely. Before COVID-19 changed the way businesses work, most marketing teams spent their days together in a meeting room collaborating on the next […]
The line-up for the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Festival has been announced as the legendary event returns live in Las Vegas in September. This year, the epic two-day lineup for the iHeartRadio Music Festival main stage will feature performances by Billie Eilish, Cheap Trick, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Florida Georgia Line, Journey, Khalid, Lil Baby, Maroon 5, Nelly, […]
Shop! ANZ is calling on shopper and retail marketing professionals from all retail related disciplines to participate in the first ANZ Shopper and Retail Marketing Industry Survey in four years. This important research provides a guide of where the retail marketing industry in Australia and New Zealand has come from and what is anticipated to […]


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BPCL Investment Withdrawal: The privatization of state-owned petroleum company Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has come to a halt. Two bidders withdrew due to lack of clarity on fuel prices, leaving only one bidder in the race to buy the company. The government plans to sell its total 52.98 per cent stake in BPCL and has invited expressions of interest from bidders in March 2020.
Do you know why the withdrawal process has stopped?
Until November 2020, let you know that there are at least three bids, but after others have withdrawn their offers, there is now only one bider left in the race to take over BPCL. Sources said, “We have only one bidder and this does not mean that a bidder has imposed his own terms. So the investment withdrawal process is currently on hold.”
Not getting buyers
The second largest public sector oil refining and fuel marketing company in India could not find many buyers. The main reason for this is the lack of clarity on domestic fuel prices. Public sector fuel retailers are selling cheaper petrol and diesel. This makes it harder for private sector retailers to sell fuel at a loss or lose market share.
Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Group and American venture funds Apollo Global Management Inc. and I Squared Capital Advisors have expressed interest in acquiring a 53 per cent government stake in BPCL. However, both global investors later withdrew their bids.
The government is looking at privatization in a new way
The sources said the government had not invited financial bids. Once the terms and conditions of the share purchase agreement have been finalized, the government is required to invite financial bids. There is talk that the government is now considering a fresh look at the privatization of BPCL as well as the revision of sales terms.
To this extent Vedanta Chairman said
Another source said that considering the geo-political situation and energy changes, the government could provide a 26 per cent share with management control. The government has not made any official announcement on the withdrawal of the BPCL disinvestment process. Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal said the government had withdrawn its offer to sell its stake in BPCL and would come up with a new plan.
Government Scheme: The Central Government is giving away gas cylinders free of cost
FD will be made in HDFC Bank, so you will get more interest from today, check quickly, how much benefit will you get?


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Sonos has unraveled two new speakers as part of its Era family, the Sonos Era 300 and Sonos Era 100 which are made out of recycled material and come with long-lasting serviceability.
Windows 11 build 23545 fixes a number of File Explorer bugs and more
windows 11 insider preview
Smart speakers RSS
Ofcom has launched a study into large cloud service providers, communications apps such as WhatsApp, and connected devices like smart TVs and smart speakers. It wants to identify competition concerns.
Amazon's Alexa proposed to a 10-year-old child to perform a dangerous "outlet challenge" from TikTok. Thankfully for the kid, its mother was close by and shared this incident on Twitter.
Documents seen by Bloomberg suggest customers are getting a bit bored with their Amazon Echo now that the shine has worn off. It also noticed that people only use a handful of features.
Amazon announced that users can now make group calls with up to seven people via Alexa-enabled devices. Support for Zoom and Amazon Chime video calls are also rolling out starting today.
Google today announced that it is rolling out Apple Music support on Assistant-enabled smart devices, including its Nest line of speakers and displays. The service can also be set as the default.
Google is introducing a lot of new capabilities to Assistant-powered smart displays and speakers that will let kids ask about the whereabouts of their parents, along with other new features.
The Google Assistant-powered smart speaker does what it's supposed to do it but also ups the ante on the audio quality from Google Home. Here's our comprehensive review of the new Nest Audio.
A report suggests that Xiaomi will soon launch its Mi Smart Speaker in several European markets. The company had launched the Google Assistant-powered smart speaker in India last month.
Google has announced a new member of the Nest family, the Nest Audio, during its hardware event. The new smart speaker is a successor to the Google Home, but it's 75% louder. It costs $99.
Google is rolling out an update for Smart Displays that lets users to dynamically link devices across multiple rooms. The feature is rolling out to displays today and the Google Home app in the fall.
Google is adding a few new features aimed towards kids, including Family Bell reminders for school schedules, the ability to broadcast to specific rooms, new smart display visuals, and more.
Canalys has predicted that true wireless stereo devices will pass 200 million shipments this year. The analyst also revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting different smart audio categories.
Google has announced that it's bringing some additional Google Assistant features to smart home devices, including expanded voice match support and hotword sensitivity adjustments.
Huawei has announced that it plans to bring HarmonyOS to more devices in 2020. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the firm said that it has no plans to ship it with smartphones and tablets at this time.
The analyst firm, Canalys, has revealed that Baidu is the second-largest vendor of smart speakers, ahead of Google, but behind Amazon. The news is interesting as Baidu only sells speakers in China.
Google will start rolling out Assignable reminders in the coming weeks to users in the U.S., U.K., and Australia who speak English. These reminders let you remind others about events.
YouTube Music is now available to download for free on any Google Assistant-powered speaker, though the listening experience will be interrupted by ads, except for the premium version.
Google Assistant's Interpreter Mode feature that helps translate speech in real time is now available to all Google Home devices, some smart speakers with Assistant built-in, and all Smart Displays
Having been launched almost a year ago, the Apple HomePod will become available for sale in both China and Hong Kong as of this Friday, boosting the device's reach to a total of ten markets.
Ofcom has revealed some research which shows which devices are on the rise and declining in the UK. It showed that smart speakers have started catching on quite quickly as opposed to VR.
The latest update for iOS, version 11.4, is now available with support for multi-HomePod setups, AirPlay 2 for easier control over playback across different speakers, and Messages in iCloud.
The Google Assistant-powered LG ThinQ series, which include a typical smart speaker and one with a smart display, are now available for pre-order from B&H for $196.99 and $296.99, respectively.
In the world of Cortana, Alexa, Siri, and Google, Samsung wants you to remember that they have a smart assistant, too. A new report suggests the company will launch a smart speaker with Bixby in 2018.
Google's premium Home Max speaker is now available for sale in countries around the world starting from $399. Aside from the Google Store, customers can find the device in third-party shops too.
If you own a Google Home Mini and it cuts out at high volumes, you're not alone. The firm has recently acknowledged the problem on its forums and looking for user feedback to help find a solution.


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Tough economic times mean retailers are exposed to a greater likelihood of theft, warns the Australian Retailers Association chief
Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, told the AJP today that normally theft across the retail industry in general sits at about 3% of turnover… but it’s currently rising.
He was commenting on revelations by Nine News that theft of cosmetics is becoming “rampant”.
Nine spoke to pharmacy owner Kei Lim who said that skincare and makeup were being stolen from his pharmacy almost daily.
Another pharmacist, Daniel Cheesbrough, said he faced losses of up to $50,000.
It’s a sign of a tougher economic environment, Mr Zimmerman says.
“When the economy gets tough, that 3% goes up, when it’s booming, it goes down – you can actually pick it,” he told the AJP.
“If you talk to the fuel providers, they’ll tell you that they get more drive-throughs, people taking off without paying, when things are tough; that figure’s always underlying, but it shoots up and down.
“Theft is around $7 or $8 billion across the retail industry. You’re not going to get much theft in pharmacy from behind the counter – you’re more likely to get break-ins there – but in terms of actual retail theft, you’re more likely to find it in particular items like lipstick, small cosmetic items and perfume, if they can get hold of it.
“Most pharmacies that I see these days put their high-quality aftershave and perfume under lock and key, but where they don’t you’ll find higher theft.
“There’s a couple of interesting other things – if a pharmacy has got baby food and times are tough, there’s a spike in that. Razor blades are huge, and batteries. Theft of sanitary items goes up a bit.
“Basically anything that’s small, relatively expensive and that people want to try and save on a household bill, that they think they can get away with not paying for.”
Most items are slipped into a pocket or handbag discreetly as the thief goes past a shelf, he says.
And pharmacists and workers shouldn’t assume that a smaller handbag won’t have goods stashed into it.
“If they have a big bag, they’ll often know they’ll get searched, but a smaller one, that’s less likely,” Mr Zimmerman warns.
Items which have RFID tags applied to them are often taken out of boxes, and the RFID tag left behind on the shelf with the box, he says. Retailers in some channels, such as home improvement, are finding some suppliers now provide packaging which is very difficult to open, as a result.
He says that the “mum and dad” feel and professional services offered by some pharmacies may help insulate them to some degree from theft, compared to larger, less personal price-oriented chains.
“Mum and dad pharmacies often end up being service oriented, so there’s people on the floor to say, ‘hello, how are you, can I help you’ and you may feel intimidated by that, as a person about to try and thieve something.
“There’s eyes everywhere. Whereas in a big pharmacy you’re probably relying on cameras to get them, so if they’re smart about it they can avoid detection.”
He says that pharmacies which believe they have a theft problem need to conduct an audit of their business to determine the best way to approach the issue.
“Maybe one is to use RFID tags and put electronic gates up – put cameras up, or dummy cameras up, just being careful how you place them, as there’s places you can’t, such as directly over a pinpad where you can see somebody entering a pin.”


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As the domestic market make preparations to return to tourism activities, cycle trails are set to play a leading role in the recovery of the tourism industry.
The last six weeks have seen a spike in bike sales and cycling activity all across New Zealand, highlighting the popularity of the activity and also potentially presenting an entirely new market who will be interested in cycling New Zealand trails.
Geoff Gabites, CEO of Cycle Journeys; who offer complete self-guided cycling experiences on three of New Zealand’s great cycle trails, says cycle trails will hold great appeal to Kiwi’s.
“Leading up to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Kiwi’s represented approximately 85% of the riders on our trails. In the last 6-10 years since these trails opened, they have always proudly been a Kiwi product priced by and for the Kiwi market.”
The strong growth in the industry, pre 2020, meant New Zealand cycle trails played a major role in economic development particularly in rural regions and delivered huge financial benefit to small rural communities. Cycle Journeys’ Twizel operation on the Alps 2 Ocean trail alone, contributes in excess of $400,000 per annum through wages and rent, whilst employing more than 25 locals.
Mr Gabites is positive that the strong industry growth seen pre COVID-19, which encouraged many new businesses to be established, highlights Kiwi’s passion for trail riding and this love affair will continue and even escalate now a date to lift domestic travel restrictions has been announced.
“We survey all our riders and 85-90% of them reported that riding the trails was the reason for coming to the area. Clearly trails are a key driver of the tourism market, and we are convinced they will be a significant driver of the recovery moving forward.” Mr Gabites said.
Although like other operators, Cycle Journeys were forced to close their season six weeks early – over 500 existing bookings were transferred to the next season. Add this to the forward bookings already in place for the next season, as well as the enquiries received during the lockdown, and the numbers look strong.
“During the lockdown, we still received multiple enquiries asking when they could return to trails. Literally, with 10 minutes of the Government announcement as to what Level 2 could look like, we had received five booking enquiries,” said Gabites.
“While there will be new challenges this coming season, we firmly believe in New Zealander’s passion to support local and a strong season will be of huge economic benefit to tourism industry right across New Zealand. With the reported backlog of bookings carried over, a strong growth and interest in cycling and a possible opening of an Australian bubble, there is strong potential for some trails to sell out.” said Mr Gabites


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Scrap what we said the other day about Kublax possibly being able to continue, an email sent to users today confirms they’ve gone out of business.
Google has made its first official steps into the UK financial comparison market with the launch of a tool to compare credit card rates.
A new deal website has launched aiming to give massive discounts on a range of items, provided enough people agree to take up the deal.
Vouchercloud is one of the more impressive and slickest apps I’ve downloaded for my iPhone so far, as it solves a problem I normally find with discount vouchers – finding relevant, valid voucher codes is often a frustrating and time-wasting process.
There have been some interesting stories around in the last few days looking at whether your social networking could be used by insurers or banks to build a better profile of their customers and to use that info for either marketing, or more interestingly, to approve or disapprove you for certain products.
If you’ve ever upgraded from an old, out-of-date PC, chances are you’ve either given it away or taken it to a local tip or perhaps even binned it. Have you ever thought about the amount of sensitive data that could still be lurking on there?
Google is launching its very own mobile price comparison shopping app for the Android mobile platform.
It would appear that the stories of Kublax’s demise were greatly exaggerated, as they’ve today announced that they are to continue trading thanks to an injection of cash from SimplyFinance.
Money4Gold have had one of their lovely adverts criticised by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), who have asked them to change it before it can be shown again.
Account aggregator Kublax has gone into administration after failing to find funding to develop their site.


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Following plans to sell its iconic Memphis factory last year, Gibson has announced it will relocate Memphis guitar production to Nashville.
“After thorough evaluation and amid the previously disclosed April 2019 expiration of our Memphis lease, we have determined that integrating the company’s Memphis operations with our Gibson USA and Gibson Custom facilities in Nashville, where Gibson is headquartered, is the right next step for our business,” the company said in a statement posted on Commercial Appeal.
That’s in contrast to the company’s statements last year, which indicated Gibson was seeking to “move nearby to a more appropriate location for our manufacturing based business”.
Gibson’s Memphis factory produces the company’s hollowbody and semi-hollow ES guitars, and employs 65 staff, some of whom will be offered the opportunity to relocate to Nashville.
This marks one of the first major business moves since former Levi’s CEO James ‘JC’ Curleigh took over the embattled guitar co, which filed for bankruptcy back in May.


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Japanese company Mitsui Chemicals’ wants to roll out its diagnostics business for the Indian solar market. It plans to establish a module test lab that and will also provide services in project planning through to PV plant operations. (Source: Business Wire/Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.)
- Mitsui Chemicals has announced it is working to have a new solar PV panel testing and certification lab in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- It has partnered with PI Berlin of Germany that has been using its Suzhou, China lab for quality inspections for India market
- The new facility will be used to conduct BIS certification tests; Mitsui ultimately wants to build a diagnostics business for solar panels and power plants
- Construction on the new facility will begin in October 2018, with testing operations will begin in August 2019
Japanese chemicals company Mitsui Chemicals is setting up a solar panel testing and certification lab in India’s Gujarat, in partnership with Germany’s PI Berlin. Since November 2017, PI Berlin has been present in India through the subsidiary it established here. It is using its Suzhou, China lab for quality inspections for the Indian market (see PI Berlin Expands To India).
Through its India testing lab, the Japanese company will conduct Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification tests that have become mandatory for solar panels in the country after a government order in September 2017. Recently, the country added lab testing guidelines for crystalline and thin film PV modules, including bifacial technology (see India Issues Guidelines For Module Testing).
Mitsui’s testing facility will be set up by Mitsui Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd. (MCIND). It will be headed by Suraj Arya as the President. It wants to establish a track record in BIS testing and certification and then use this to build a diagnostics business for solar panels and power plants, on the same lines as it has been operating back home in Japan.
Construction of the Mitsui facility will begin in October 2018 in Ahmedabad, with completion scheduled for March 2019. The facility is planned to start testing from August 2019 by when it expects to receive accreditation as a BIS testing and certification lab by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India.


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Miami Subs reported higher annual revenue on Thursday, but the Fort Lauderdale company said it lost $3.7 million for the year ended May 31, mainly because of internal restructuring spearheaded by its new president.
The loss amounted to 16 cents a share on revenue of $26.2 million. Last year, Miami Subs earned $404,000, or 2 cents a share, on revenue of $20.5 million.
The company's stock, which hit bottom at 13/4 earlier this month, rose 7/16 to close at 2 15/16 on Thursday. The stock, whose Nasdaq ticker symbol is SUBS, has a 52-week high of 43/16.
Thomas J. Russo, Miami Subs president and chief executive officer since January, said the company's fourth quarter reflected costs associated with expanding the company's staff. Several new executives have been brought on board since Russo's appointment.
"The investment we are making today in building our management team and organization is critical to our future progress and growth," Russo said.
During the third quarter, the company took a noncash charge of $3.2 million to dispose of about five underperforming outlets.
Sales at company-owned and franchised outlets grew by 22 percent in 1994 to more than $125 million. Twenty-nine new Miami Subs restaurants opened this year compared to 36 in 1993.
But average sales for each restaurant dropped from $966,000 last year to $930,000 in 1994.
At year end, Miami Subs had 148 restaurants operating, including 24 company-owned outlets and 124 franchises. Russo said the company plans to open 40 more restaurants by the end of the fiscal year, and 20 restaurants are in various development stages.


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Bitstars Limited Newsroom
5 Press Releases
Bitstarz.com - First casino to team up with a bitcoin exchange
BitStars.net introduces Real Money and more games from Microgaming and Betsoft
Bitstars.net partners with Amatic as they launch 20 new land based casino games to their online casino.
Bitstars.net launches bitcoin Live Casino from game supplier Ezugi
Bitstars.net Becomes the First Bitcoin Casino to Introduce Instant Credit Card Depositing


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CHARLOTTE — Awareness groups say an average of 50 children are hurt or killed by backing vehicles each week. Those numbers may have you considering a backup camera or sensor.
Blind zones play a large role in reasons for backup cameras or sensors. A child could be in many areas not able to be seen.
Martha Brown was renting an SUV.
"I drive a Corolla normally, and this car's so much bigger that it's hard to see everything because the car's so big," Brown said.
As she put the SUV in reverse, a backup camera turned on.
When asked how she rated the camera, Brown said it was "very helpful."
If considering buying a vehicle and wanting a camera system, do not assume you have to spend big on a luxury car. Many economy cars now have them, such as the Chevy Cruze.
Randy Marion Chevrolet's Keith Smith said you can get the Chevy Cruze for $18,000, and the camera screen costs an additional $550.
"It's very inexpensive, especially when you think about what you might save, the life of a child, the life of anybody really," Smith said.
A Kia Soul can be purchased for the same price. For those not searching for a new vehicle, many dealerships and stores offer "aftermarket" backup cameras.
Best Buy offers cameras for between $54 and $142. O'Reilly Auto Parts price is around $125. Tabibrothers features cameras that cost between $79 and $300. Those that will install charge an extra $75 or so.
Susan Auriemma with Kids and Cars says that's a cost worth spending. Jason Stoogenke spoke with Auriemma via Skype.
"My 3 and a-half year old daughter darted out of my home after deciding that she wanted to go with me on an errand and ran behind my car as I was backing out of my driveway," said Auriemma.
Her daughter survived, and Auriemma joined the safety awareness group "Kids and Cars."
This kind of incident doesn't discriminate between good parents and bad parents. It's about a lack of visibility. And you can't avoid hitting what you can't see."
That's why Brown would like a camera in her Toyota Corolla when she returns her rental car.
Most people think of backup cameras with the big screen as part of the navigation system. Many aftermarket ones are part of your rearview mirror, which consumer reports say are better than nothing.
If not interested in buying a backup camera, you may be interested in a backup sensor. It beeps when the car senses an object. Consumer reports say sensors do not pick up on moving objects as well as stationary ones, and some struggle in bad weather.


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WA’s bar scene is topnotch
Successful new cocktails are more rare than political promises made good. In recent memory, the Penicillin — a wonder cocktail made with lemon, scented with the peat bog smoke of Laphroaig whisky and created by New York bartender Sam Ross in 2005 — is arguably the only modern cocktail which has become an instant, universal classic.
But creativity in cocktail making, and the ability to change the way we drink as a consequence, is not just the purview of wildly hipster New York bar tenders. In WA, a small group of men and women have dramatically changed our drinking habits — and this in a city which, until the mid-noughties thought a vodka slushie was a classic. They might not have “done” a Sam Ross just yet but, here in Perth, they’ve made us all a lot happier about going out for a drink.
In just five years, Perth punters have begun to understand and enjoy the classics — old- fashioned, negroni, Manhattan, sidecar, whiskey sour — all thanks to our top barkeeps. The espresso martini may still be the drink du jour at hens’-night parties but drinks built slowly in a beaker with big ice and a cocktail spoon are now as much a part of modern drinking as the Flaming Lamborghini was in the mid-90s. More importantly, in a country with a cocktail culture, such that it was, which was all about fluffy, fizzy, sweet drinks for women, men are now downing classic mixed drinks like never before.
And it is the classics that are the backbone and the stepping-off point for any serious bartender’s repertoire.
“Pretty much every cocktail around today is a twist on a classic in one way or another,” top barkeep James Connolly said. “The classics give you a really good understanding of the basics. Once you know them you have a platform to become creative.
“Some of the younger bartenders try and put seven ingredients in a drink, yet most of the classics have just three, maybe four ingredients. The skill is in doing more with less and that’s what the classic cocktails teach us.”
Connolly, who oversees the cocktail programs at Angel’s Cut, Enrique’s School for to Bullfighting and the soon-to-be-opened Shorehouse at Swanbourne, has invented his fair share of new classics. His most successful and well received is his Burnt Butter Old- Fashioned, made with fat-washed Scotch whisky scented with beurre noisette (burnt butter), built with salted caramel syrup and chocolate bitters and served in a rocks glass with a single, clear large block of ice.
“It’s still an old-fashioned — booze, bitters and a sweetener — but it’s modern.”
And the best cocktail?
“The negroni is still the bartender’s drink of choice. Its simplicity and complexity is why it is so popular. Just three ingredients: easy to make, tough to master.”
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- The company, which has the largest chain of franchised stores in Brazil’s travel sector, also intends to launch, later this year, a program of independent salespeople, in a format similar to that already used by cosmetic giants like Natura and Avon, aiming at expanding sales to customers;
- In the international travel market, CVC expects a more consistent recovery only after 2022.
One of the largest tour operators in Latin America, CVC, will launch new business arms this year to gain efficiency and prepare itself for a possible vigorous resumption of Brazil’s travel market in the second semester, executives told analysts on Wednesday.
The company will concentrate investments in its subsidiary VHC, acquired by CVC in the United States in 2017 and which works similarly to Airbnb. The strategy includes expanding the base of available properties from around 225 today to about 8,000 “in a few years” and also launching VHC operations in Brazil and the Iberian peninsula in 2021, the company’s chief executive, Leonel Andrade Neto, told analysts and investors.
“VHC is a jewel for our business,” said the executive, one of those responsible for creating Smiles customer loyalty company. “We will invest heavily in VHC … It was the only sector that benefited from the pandemic and will be our biggest focus of expansion,” added CVC’s president without, however, giving details about how the company intends to do it.
The company, which has the largest chain of franchised stores in Brazil’s travel sector, also intends to launch, later this year, a program of independent salespeople, in a format similar to that already used by cosmetic giants like Natura and Avon, aiming at expanding sales to customers.
These independent sellers will work complementarily to physical stores, will not use the CVC brand, and will be paid a “much lower” remuneration than that received by franchisees, said Andrade Neto. “If we don’t do it [the independent sellers’ program], someone will do it, and we have the best conditions to do it because we have scale and knowledge,” said the executive.
CVC wants to create “theme marketplaces” for travel products
In the presentation, held one day after the announcement of the resignation of four members of the company’s board of directors, Andrade Neto also stated that CVC wants to create a “theme marketplaces” for travel products, including offers aimed at specific audiences such as the elderly, religious and LGBT consumers.
According to the executive, the recovery of the national tourism market, which had been gearing up in the second half of last year, slowed down at the end of 2020 amid the second wave of COVID-19 infections. “I’m more comfortable today than at the beginning of December because the solution is given. Despite all the delays in Brazil, we will have vaccination, and we will end the year with the population entirely immunized,” said the executive. He stressed that the company has about 1,250 stores open in the country, 90% of its base before the pandemic.
But in the international travel market, a more consistent recovery is expected only after 2022, said Andrade Neto. He added that, as a result, in 2022, CVC will be the same size as it was in 2019.
Throughout the presentation, Andrade Neto, who was elected to the CVC presidency in April last year, criticized the company’s previous management team regarding the lack of investments in technology and process improvement. According to him, CVC has 10 internal departments, “back offices,” “that barely speak to each other and are working manually.” To fix this, the executive is promoting a major digitization program to integrate the areas and simplify processes to support the launch of new products, which include a new company application for customers by April.
Translated by LABS


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An American flag made Hemp History this week. In Charlottesville, Virginia, an American flag made of hemp was hoisted at the downtown mall by a group of hemp supporters. The group also announced that the flag would be given to fellow hemp advocate Willie Nelson, who had a performance that same day.
As Mike Bowman, chair of the National Hemp Association, raised the hemp flag, he announced that they are trying stop the ridiculous prohibition of hemp, stating that so far 30 states have changed their laws to allow industrial hemp farming.
Virginia is one of the 30 states that now permits Virginians to grow industrial hemp. One of Virginia’s hemp farmers, Mike Lewis, grew the hemp used to produce the flag.
Click here to read the full story.


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South Africa’s citrus industry is set to receive a boost in quality as stricter laws for propagation are tabled. The Citrus Improvement Scheme(CIS) will soon be promulgated after undergoing a two-decade process of consultation in the industry.
According to Paul Fourie, scheme manager at the CRI, the scheme would ultimately increase the profitability of the Southern African citrus industry by ensuring citrus growers were supplied with nursery trees of the highest quality.
Fourie noted that the scheme would bring multiple benefits to the industry, including improved biosecurity and traceability. “We are however aware that there will be disadvantages, like a possible reduction in the proportion of budwood cut in nurseries. The limited capacity of nurseries is also of concern,” he said.